gregory



G. P. GREGOHY.

GAGE.

APPLcATmN HLED MAR. 23. me.

Patented June 24, 1919.

aiii/*army UNITED STALFES PATENT OFFICE.

*i GEORGE P. GBEORY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

GAG'E.

'1 3()7,54(5 speciflcation of Letters Patent. Patented June 24, 19.19

Application filed March 23. 1918. Serial Ne. 234.212.

To all whom it may conccm Be it known that I, (imeem P. GREGORY, a citizen of. the United States, residing at Boston, oointy of Suffolk, and State of Massachusetts, have' invented an Improvement in Geges, of which the following de scription, in connection With the accompany ing drwwings, is a specification, like charm ters on the drawings representing like parts.

The invention hereinafter described rer lates` to gages for indicating the level of liquids, and s designed more particularly, though not exclusively, for gasolene tanks of engines for diving aeroplanes.

The gasolene ;rage for an aeroplane is usu ally located in front of the driver Where its reading can be readily visualized. In this position the gage is so exposed that strong airpressure will be brought to bear on the casing' containing the dial and index. One object of the present invention is to provide simple and effective means for seeuring the said casing to the gg'asolene tank With the strength required.

It is customary to force the gasolene from the tank to the engine by fluid pressure pro duced in the tank, in order that the engine may be always supplied With gasolene in any position which the aeroplane may assume. Another object of the invention is to provide the gage With a pair of tubes, one of which may receive fluid pressure from a suitable source to force the fuel froni the tank through the other tube. These tubes also desirably serve to guide the float for the gege in its rising and falling movements. The utilization of these tubes to perform the dual funetions described elininates the necessity of providing separate fittings or connections on the tenk to enable the introduction of fluidpmessuretherein and the delivery of the gasolene therefrom. It also results in a desirable economy of material and weight, and labor in the construction and the assembly of the parte thereof. A

Another objectof the invention is to provide a colla r which may be interposed between the base of the gage and the tank and' be pemnalently Secured to the letter. The collar is shaped to confo'rm to the form and requirements of the tenk and to allow the fioat and tubes to pass readily therethrough on insertion of the same into the tenk and removal therefro'n.

With the-aforesaid andother cbjeots in viene the: diametr oithe invent'ee %may be' best understood by referenceto thefollowing description of one good form thereof shown in the accompanying drawing, Wherein- Figure 1 is a front elevation of the gege shown heroin as one ernbodinent of the invent n; 4

Fg. 2 on n enlarged scale is a vertical section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 on an enla'ged scalc is a horizontal section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on line of Fig. 3,

Rcferring to the drawing, the gage shown thcrein as an cxenplificaton of the inventon, comprises a casing 1 of alumnun or other suitable material preferably made in an integral casting fonned to resent a front face and a body mpered rearward theref'om With come-like ap pearance to reduce head resistance of the air; thercon to a minimum A platc 3 is fitted into a counterbore at the front of the casing and Secured in position by suitable screws. This plate Ina ?have a dal 5 marked With graduations and 'adapted to coperate With an index] for indicating the level of the liquid The index nay be mounted between the dial plate 3 and a strong glass 9 seated on a gasket 11 and secured to the front end of the casing by a bezel 13 threaded to said casing.

The head of the casing may be nounted on a base or flange 15. In the present instance, the head is connected to said base or flange by a neck 17, one par-toi which rises from and is integral With the b e o flan e 15., and the other part of whic projects downward fron the body of the casing a suitable Washer being, interposed betweensaid parte. Dowels 20 ma project upward from the lower part of j e. neck into the body of the casing to, position t e head iii its proper rota t ve ad ustinent with respect to the base or flange. y 4

The top of the tani; may be given a rounded or arched form as indicatd at 21 to provide a stro ig contruton with adeqk te t in ss to rmsh a rm sup ort to t gege. o connect the base W th he top of the tank a 0011 4' 23 may be provid d having its upper face flat to receive the ase or flan e, 15 of the head, andtits bottom curved or f rmed to confprm to th Q tour of the irpper surface of th tan e 015 be etaebsbly fi e-9 ti 1 9 1' strana 25,- a i i i W ,i te massive: be

' that the flui tween said base and collar to prevent leakage between them. Preferarbly the screws 25 'll't' tapped into hosses or lgs *10 loi-med on said eollar, the lower ends ol' llle holes l'or the screws being closed to prevent leuk age of gasolene from said tanlc past said screws.

The collar and base or flange, in the present instancm are desirably given the form ot' a segment of a circle, With opposed ends 31 of circular are form and opposed stramht sides 33 one ot the latter being l'n'eferably nearer than the other to the center of the circle from which the arcs of the ends 31 are struek. T hus, the Construction of the collar and base such that they are desirably light adapted to the Iportion of the tank where the gage is locate` and fin-nish means 'for curely eonneeting the head of the gage to the tank.

A post 35, in the present instance, integral with the base or llangc, rjses through a hole in the bottom of the head and projects` up into said head toward the top thoreof. The head may be secnred to said post and the parts of the neck may be pressed together by a nut 37 threaded on said post and secured by a lock nut 39. A bracket 41 has a socket thei-ein adapted to receive the upper end of the post 35, said bracket being Secured thereto by a screw 43. The upper end of the bracket is provided with members 45 and 47 supporting a shaft 49 for rotating the index. A vertical shaft 51 projects npward through the base or fiange and through the post toward the index shaft 49 said shatts being connected by intermeshing bevel gears 53 and 55 thereon. The lower end of the vertical shaft 51 may be connected to the upper end of a twisted-rihbon 57 projecting toward the bottom of the tenk. A float 59 is adapted to slide alon this ribbon, and as it does so imparts rotation to said shafts and index, and causes the latter to indicate the level of the gasolcne in the tank. To guide the fioat in its rising and falling movements and prevent rotation of the float, the letter may be provided With apertured ears 61 adapted to slide along tubes 63 projecting Upward from the bottom of the tank through the collar and base or fiange. The upper ends of said tubes are threaded in sleeves 65 preferably formed integral with the base or fiange. The upper ends of said sleeves may be upset or formed to present internal limiting fianges 67 for engagement with the upper ends of the tnbes 63. The enter surfaces of the sleeves 65 may be threaded to receive fittin for a pair of pipes (not shown), one of w ich may lead from a ump or other source of compressed air, and the other may lead to the en 'ne The Construction is such pressure introduced throu h one of the tubes, forces the gasolne' from t e tenk through the other tubeto the engine'v Geges for aeroplane use should have a eonstruction such that the parts thereof may he quickly separated to allow inspection, adjustmcnt or repair thcreof. The gage desc'ibed herein is well suited for this use, since the gege may be quickly and easily rcmoved from the tenk by release of the screws 25, which will permit the casing, lase. tulles and float to he removed as a unit from the tenk. The collar is given a segmental l'orm with an opening snfficicntly large to allow the tubcs and float to readily pass therethrough, but Without excess material which Would objectionably add to the weight of the parts. y

It is important that the gagc should always be mounted on the collar With the dial plate 'fin-ing the driver of the aeroplane. As stated\ one of the straight sides 33 of the collar and the lase or fiange is nearer than the other to the center of the circle from which the are shaped sides thereof' are struck. As a conseque'e one of the straight sidcs is longer than the other, and the holes l'or the screws '25 in the base or flange and the collar Will only register when the base or fiange is positioned on the collar With the longer straight side of the base or fiange registering With the longer straight side of the collar. As a consequence, the Construction enables the base or fiange to be always nounted on the collar to bring the dial plate in proper position with respect to the driver of the aeroplane, without attention on the part of the mechanic Who assembles the parts. There is a further advantage in the shapc of the base or fiange and collar, since the registration ot' the flat sides thereot cletermines the proper rotative adjustment of the base or flangc with respect to the collar lo assure c'rrect registration of the screw holes thereof Without attention on the part of the mechanic.

'By the inventio described a gage is provided which is very light ut sufliciently strong in Construction to withstand the rack and vibration which gages for acroplanes necessarily experience.

It Will be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiment shown, but that various deviations may be made therefrom Without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

hat is claimed is:-

1. A gage for measuring the depth of liquids, conp'isin in eombination, a casing having a body Wifi a neck projecti downward therefrom, a base for said nec a collar Secured to said base for connection With a tenk, a pair of tube extending through said collar and connected to said base, one of said tubes being ada ted to receive fluid pressure to force the nel from the tank through the other tube, a dial* in said body, an index' coperating with said diel to indicat the level of the liquid, a float slidable on and gnided by said tnbes a shutt rotatcd by said fioat and rising through said neel( into the body of said easing, an index shalt in said body, and gearing eonnections for said shafts, said eollar being of segmental form to (-onform to the tank and allow the float and tnbes to pass theretln-ongh.

9. A gage for measuring the depth ol' liquids, conprising, in conbination, a easing having a body, a base for said body, a necl( eonnecting said body With said base, a cell-ar adapted to be seeured to a tank, means detachably to connect said base with said eo llar, a pair of tubcs connected to said base and projecting downivard theref'om th rough said eollar one of said tubes being adapted to receive fluid pressnre to force fuel froni the tank through the other tube a dial in the easing body. an index coperating with said dial to indicate the level of the liquid in the tank, and means to nove said index over said dial including a fioat slidable on and gnided by said tubes.

3. A gage for measuring the depth oli' liquids, eo mprising, in eon'bination a easing a base therefom a neck eonneetin said easing With said base, a eollar beneat 1 said base for connection With a tank, a pair of tubes connected to said base and extending doWnWard through said eollar, a dial plate in said easing, an index eoperating With said dial plate, and means to move said in dex over said dial including a float slidable on and guided by said tubes, said eollar being suliciently large to allow the fioat and tubes to pass therethrough.

4. A gage for measuring the depth of liquids, comprising, in conbination, a easing having a dial plate, an index eoperating with said dial plate, a collar of circnla' segmental form adapted to be Secured to a tanln a. base for said easing of cireul ar seg mental form corresponding to the form of said collar, means to secure said base to said collar, a fioatand means to impart movement from said float to said index including shafts having gear-ing oonnections mounted in said easing.

5. A gage for measuring the depth of liquids, eomprising, in eombination, a casing having a da] plate, an index eoperating With said dial plate, a float, means to impart, movement to said index from said float including transmission means mounted in said easing, and means for securing said casing to a tank including a base or fiange and a eollar having opposed straight sides and opposed are shaped sides, and means to secure said base or fiange to said collar.

(i. A gage :for measuring' the depth of liquids, conprising, in eonbination, a easing having a dial plate, an index coperating with said dial plate, a eollar of eircular segnental 'l'orn adapled for connection with a tanl a base for said casing having .sh-,eyes project-ing tln-rctroi, tnibes sticlred to said sleevem and extending downward l''on said base through said eollar, and means to impa't movement 'from said lloat to said index including' a aha'l t projeeting through said base into said Carling' and gearing connections olnted in said easing.

7. A gage for measuring the depth of liqnids, comprising in t'o'bination a casing having a dial platg an index cooperating With `said dial plate. a float, means to inipa't movement to said index froni said float, and means for scenrin: said casing to a tank including a base or flange tor said casinL and ai collar adapted to be seenrcd to the tank, said Collar being of eirenla' segmental form With an openin thei-ein snfliciently large to allow the doat to pass therethrough.

8. A gage for measuring the depth of liquids, comprising, in eombination, a casing having a dial plate, an index eoperatinl With said dial plate means for seeuring sai easing to a tank including a base or fiangev a pan' of tubes connected to said base or fiange and projecting downward therefrom, one tube constituting an air inlet and the other a liquid ontlet for the tank, a eollar for connection With the tank surrounding said tubes, means to secure said base or fiange to said collaig a float slidable along and guided by said tubes, and means to impart movement from said fioat to said index.

9. A gage for measuring the depth of liquids, eomprising in combination, a easing having a dial plate, an index eoperating With said dial plate a base or flange for said easing, a eollar seeured to said base or flange adapted for connection With a tank, a pair of tubes connected to said base or flange. one for receivin; fluid pressure to force fuel from the tank to the other, a float, and means to impart movement to said index from said float.

In testimony Whereof, I have signed my name to this specifieation.

GEORGE P. GREGORY.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Gommissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G." 

